Ghana

Over 3 million people have no choice but to collect dirty water from unsafe sources.

23 million people don't have access to improved sanitation in Ghana.

3 million people in Ghana lack access to an improved water source.

Over 4,000 children under five years old die annually from poor water and sanitation in Ghana.

Ghana is rich in natural resources but many of its people are unemployed or live in poverty. Access to basic services is often inadequate, affecting people's health and preventing them from escaping poverty.

The crisis

Ghana is one of the most densely populated countries in West Africa. Since the adoption of a new constitution in 1993, Ghana has become more politically stable, but a history of coups, food shortages and corruption means the country remains poor and indebted.

The three northern regions are particularly deprived, with one in ten children dying before their fifth birthday. 80% of all diseases in Ghana are caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation and more than three million people don't have access to safe drinking water. Only around 14% of the population have access to adequate sanitation facilities.

Our approach

WaterAid has been present in Ghana since 1985, working with policy makers and eight local development partners.

Water, sanitation and hygiene education projects are carried out in six out of ten of the country's regions, helping to improve access to water and sanitation for some of Ghana's poorest people.

Community-led solutions and systems are put in place to help empower local communities and people so that they can help themselves to take the first steps out of poverty.